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Bacterial gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria.

Causes

Bacterial gastroenteritis can affect one person or a group of people who all ate the samefood. It more commonly occurs after eating at picnics, school cafeterias, large social functions, or restaurants.

The germsmay get into your food (called contamination)in different ways:

Meat or poultry may come into contact with bacteria from the intestines of an animalbeing processed

Water that is used during growing or shipping may contain animal or human waste

If you have diarrhea and are unable to drink or keep down fluids because of nausea or vomiting, you may needfluids through a vein (IV). This is especially true for young children.

If you take diuretics ("water pills"), talk to your health care provider. You may need to stop taking the diuretic while you have diarrhea. Never stop or change medications without firsttalking to your health care provider.

Antibiotics are usually not prescribed for most common types of bacterial gastroenteritis, unless the diarrhea is very severe.

You can buy medicines at the drugstore that can help stop or slow diarrhea.

Do not use these medicines without talking to your health care provider if you have bloody diarrhea, a fever, or the diarrhea is severe.

Digestive system - illustration

The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.

Digestive system

illustration

Digestive system organs - illustration

The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.

Digestive system organs

illustration

Digestive system - illustration

The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.

Digestive system

illustration

Digestive system organs - illustration

The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.